The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1887-02-12
Gen Letter.

S"oS" LVbC WAA OO IV0A WAN wv
sal interest in this State. Gen.
Francis 7. Nichols brief letter
conveys the satisfactory assurance
that he will accept the nomination
for the governorship if it is tender
ed to him by the Democratic Con
vention. After some years of re-
tirement from active political life,
he comes again to the front 10 res
ponse to a very general and urgent
demand. We can we'll understand
how under ordinary conditions be
would shrink from ,resumipg the
cares and responsibilities of Office;
but when .heir most important in
terests and sacred rights are at
stake the call Of his ifellow.citizens
comes to him as an imperative
summons to the discharge Of d para
mount duty. 1t was frog1 a seRse
Of patriotic obligation that he &C.
cepted the nomination Of his party
in 1875, aud it is because the Lou.
isiana Democracy is now confront.
ing another extremely critical jnnc.
ture that he places himself once
more at its service 1t is true thet
the names of a number of able and
worthy gentlemen have been sug,
gested in connection with the gov.
ernorship; but Gen. Nichols is IN.
questionably the choice Of the great
majority of the people. His train.
ing, his knowledge of law and his
respect for its authority, his personal
purity, his calm courage and sober
judgment, his gallant conduct in
the late war, perfect record as a
Democrat ia the midst of all the
tergiversations and treacheries of
the era Of reconstruction, the cool
ness, frmness and skill with which
he guided the movement that resul.
ted in the overthrow Of the Repub.
lican usurpation in tnis State, all
conf to add lustre to his prestige
aud to confirm his popularity. Gen.
Nicholls is therefore, an eminently
available candidate. He can be
nominated and elected.
Doubtless Louisiana has MANY
other publicspirted citizens equally
as much attached to the true pr!nci.
Piles of the Democratic party and
quite as much alive to the existing
necessity for a thorough administra.
tive reform; but it will be admitted
that the better element in the party
should be led in the approaching
contest by the man whose superior
influence is beyond all question.
1t ia impossible either to conceal
or to ignor the great gravity of the
sitaation in this State. The stcug-
gle of the g God people of Louisiana
in 1851 was to recover the lost
autonomy Of their common wealth
and to secure the blessings of pare
and economical government. After
the lapse OF ten years they have to
make the sad confession that they
have been disappointed. The work
begun by Gen. Nichols and the
friends and supporters of his admin.
istration has fallen into the hands
OF men either unable or unwilling to
continue it. The Democratic party,
to which a vast majority of the best
and mest intelligent people Of the
State are attached BY venerable
traditions and Aistericties. is in dan.
ger of becoming the helpless instru.
ment Of the personal ambition Of a
small ccterie of self-seeking poll.
ticiaDs.
1t is necessary to vindicate the
party by placing it under a leader.
ship which will revive the memory
OF better days; aud therefore it is
that the people look for Light and
leading" to the solder, tie Jurist
and the statesman, who led them in
other times to victory. Gen.
Nichols, for his part, understands
perfectly we'll the arduoas nature
OF the task which will devolve o O
him; but, sustained by the sympathy
OF good men and aided by ali the
forces which are at work on the
side Of honor and Of justice, he will
not falter or look back until the
long PROMISED regeneration of Lou.
lslana has become al accomplished